We are already more
than halfway through the 2022-23 NBA regular season, with the playoffs
just right around the corner. So far, this season has produced plenty
of things to talk about. From highlight reels, stellar offensive and
defensive stat lines, rekindled rivalry, officiating controversies,
off-court drama, and lots more, this season has been nothing short of
entertainment.
Some teams have had it good thus far, while others have struggled to
maintain form. The Eastern Conference No. 1 seed Celtics lead the way
as the team with the overall best record, three games above the Bucks
and 76ers, while the Nuggets are sitting pretty fine at the top of the
Western Conference standings.
Reigning champions, the Warriors have struggled throughout the season
with just 26 wins out of their last 51 games while fellow California
neighbors, the Lakers, find themselves have yet to find their footing
all season long.
Here's a list of the top five hottest NBA teams at the moment:
1. Memphis Grizzlies (L10: 4-6)
Record: 32-19
Although the Grizzlies find themselves in a losing slump at the moment,
with just one win in their last six games, they are still the No. 2
seed in the West. That's thanks to their 11-game winning streak, tied
for second-best in franchise history.
They are an elite team at home, with 20 wins in their last 25 games.
Memphis' overall record is more impressive, considering the team has
been without third-year wing Desmond Bane for much of this campaign.
Led by the flashy Ja Morant, the team has proven to everyone that last
year's run to the second round of the playoffs wasn't a fluke. Morant
has 27.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game and is bound to
make another All-star appearance later this month.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (L10: 7-3)
Record: 34-17
The Bucks are again one of the best teams in the league, as has been
the case over the past few years. Two times MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo
is playing at an MVP level again, registering 31.8 points, 12.2
rebounds, and 5.2 assists in just under 34 minutes per game.
The Bucks started the season 9-0 and have so far racked up 34 wins,
most of which have come without All-star Kris Middleton stepping foot
on the court. With Middleton back on the floor, Milwaukee is one of the
teams to avoid the postseason.
3. Philadelphia 76ers (L10: 8-2)
Record: 32-17
Philly has had to deal with so much this season; Joel Embiid started
the year slowly, James Harden was putting up disastrous performances
before being sidelined for a month, and Tyrese Maxey missed some time
after an early season injury against the Bucks.
But that's all past tense now, and if we're keeping it a buck, the
76ers have, by far, been the best team in 2023. Both Embiid (33.5) and
Harden (11.0) are currently leading the league in points per game and
assist per game, respectively. Maxey, on the other hand, is averaging a
cool 20.2 points per game, not bad for a third year in the league.
At the moment, the 76ers (4.0) are tied with the Grizzlies for third in net ratings this season.
4. Denver Nuggets (L10: 7-3)
Record: 35-16
Nikola Jokic is having another MVP-esque season with the Nuggets,
averaging a 25.1-point, 11.1-rebound, 10.0-assist triple-double. The
reigning back-to-back MVP is on par to become the first player to win
three consecutive MVP awards since Larry Bird did it in 1986.
But the big difference in Denver's season compared to the previous
campaign is Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.'s health, who missed
the entire 2022 season because of an injury. Many argue that the
Nuggets would have finished with a better record last year with these
two key pieces on the floor. And now, with both players back in the
squad and healthy, this thesis has been proven to be true. Add Aaron
Gordon to the mix, and you have a team that will give fellow
championship hopefuls a lot to worry about.
5. Boston Celtics (L10: 7-3)
Record: 37-15
Many feared that the suspension of last year's head coach Ime Udoka
would deter Celtics this season, but this team has proven their
doubters wrong. Led by two-way duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the
Celtics are playing even better than they did on their road to last
year's NBA finals.
Both Tatum (31.1) and Brown (27.0) are averaging career highs in
points, with the former's name consistently being brought up in MVP
conversations. The Celtics are currently without the injured Marcus Smart, who has spent much of the new year on the sidelines but is doing just fine on defense.
